Richard Heath Jr.
Agency patch
Special Agent

Richard Heath Jr.

Felonious
End of Watch April 1, 1973
Age 36
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 111 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Richard Heath died on April 1, 1973 in Quito, Ecuador, from complications of a gunshot wound he received during an undercover operation in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, on February 22, 1973. Special Agent Heath had served with the Drug Enforcement Administration for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-EF3524DD
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Richard. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Heath gave the United States Department of Justice 7 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Heath.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Arlington, TX
Platform Identity usdjbnddfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 1, 1973
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Special Agent Richard Heath Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Heath Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Richard Heath Jr. Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Heath Jr. is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Heath Jr. was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

3 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs are honored on badge.nw.